Centre Constitutes High-Level Committee to Tackle IIT Student Suicides
The Government of India has taken a decisive step by forming a three-member expert committee to thoroughly examine the distressing cases of student suicides at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. This initiative aims to develop comprehensive recommendations for strengthening mental health and well-being support systems across all higher education institutions in the country.
Immediate Response to Renewed Concerns
This significant move comes amid renewed national attention on student fatalities at IIT campuses, including a recent tragic suicide incident at IIT Kanpur. The committee has been specifically tasked with reviewing institutional processes, evaluating existing support mechanisms, and identifying critical gaps in early intervention strategies. According to reports from PTI, the panel has been directed to submit its detailed findings and recommendations within a strict timeframe of 15 days.
Committee Composition and Mandate
The high-level panel will be chaired by Anil Sahastrabuddhe, who currently serves as the chairman of the National Educational Technology Forum. The committee members include renowned psychiatrist Dr. Jitendra Nagpal and Rina Sonowal Kouli, the Joint Secretary (Higher Education) in the Union Education Ministry.
Officials quoted by PTI have revealed that the committee will conduct a thorough assessment of patterns emerging from past suicide cases and develop preventive frameworks that can be implemented nationally across educational institutions. The panel's comprehensive mandate includes:
- Reviewing accessibility and effectiveness of counseling services
- Evaluating faculty sensitization programs regarding student mental health
- Assessing grievance redressal systems within educational institutions
- Examining coordination between academic departments and residential units on campuses
- Investigating how institutions track and respond to early warning signs of psychological distress
Alarming Statistics Across IITs
Data compiled by the Global IIT Alumni Support Group reveals a deeply concerning trend. Between January 2021 and December 2025, at least 65 students died by suicide across various Indian Institutes of Technology. More alarmingly, 30 of these tragic cases occurred within just the past two years, according to figures cited by alumni members in interactions with TNN.
The data indicates that these suicides have affected students across all academic levels, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. Alumni groups and student bodies have consistently highlighted recurring references to personal or academic stress in official statements following these deaths, as noted by TNN reports.
IIT Kanpur's Disturbing Figures
IIT Kanpur has recorded nine suicide deaths over the past two years alone, accounting for approximately 30 percent of all such cases across IITs during this period, according to figures shared by alumni in conversation with TNN. IIT Kharagpur followed with seven cases, while IIT Bombay recorded just one suicide despite having a significantly larger student population.
Dheeraj Singh, founder of the Global IIT Alumni Support Group and an IIT Kanpur alumnus, highlighted that the Supreme Court has already formed a task force to address student mental health concerns. Singh, quoted by TNN, referred to judicial observations that recognize mental health as an integral component of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution, citing the landmark Saha vs State of Andhra Pradesh case.
Broader National Context
The IIT suicide figures represent just one facet of a much larger national crisis. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data cited by TNN, India recorded more than 13,000 student suicides in 2023 alone. This translates to an average of approximately 36 tragic incidents occurring daily across the country.
The Centre's newly formed committee is expected to place its recommendations within this broader national context while proposing institution-level reforms aimed at creating sustainable mental health support systems. The panel's work represents a crucial step toward addressing what has become a pressing public health concern affecting India's student population.
